Sometimes the best thing about making over a piece of furniture is in the details. Like the addition of the sweet little tassel I added to my bedroom dresser I just posted about. But also in other ways like the addition of decorative paper to line the drawers. It is not needed, but it sure gives your eyes a treat every time you open a drawer seeing a pop of color and a pretty design.
I use gift wrap mostly when lining drawers, but wallpaper works well too, as do book pages, maps, and other large pieces of paper. Home Goods is my #1 source for finding pretty rolls of gift wrap at bargain prices. I have 2 stashes of it in my house since I can’t fit everything into one location :-)
Lining a drawer with paper is not hard, but I know of a super easy way that doesn’t even require the use of a measuring tape.
How to Line a Drawer with Decorative Paper the Easy Way
1. Turn the drawer upside down on a work surface.
2. Lay the gift wrap over the drawer. Use the straight edge of the gift wrap to line up the paper at the front of the drawer. Cut the paper around the drawer to get at a workable piece of paper that is a little bigger than the drawer.
3. Fit the paper into the depression around the bottom of the drawer.
4. Fold over the excess paper on the sides and make a crisp crease with your fingers.
5. Fold the excess paper around the back edge and make a crisp crease.
6. Remove paper and cut along the side of the drawer creases with a pair of sharp scissors.
7. Since the inside of the drawer has the back and it is hidden on the underside, you need to add the approximate thickness of the drawer back above your crease on the back of the paper (this sounds harder than it is, but once you do it, it is a no-brainer). When cutting the back, add the thickness of the drawer back and then cut a straight line using your crease as a guide to keep your cut straight. Since the cut is in the back of the drawer, if you cut a bit unevenly you won’t even see it.
Variation: Use the side of a straight edge and craft knife to cut your paper along the creases.
- Note: If your drawer has a center runner under it you can still get the approximate size for the paper needed to line the drawer by fitting the paper while working on it from the underside of the drawer. Follow the same steps even if the runner is making the paper raised in the middle. Once you fit it and made the creases, turn the drawer over and place the gift wrap inside the drawer fitting the front, back, and one side in place.
- One side will have to be fitted. Use the edge of a ruler to move the gift wrap in place to push the excess up against one side. Crease this excess, remove the paper and cut along the crease.
What more drawer lining inspiration? See how I lined my desk drawer with the pages of a font book: How to Line a Drawer with Book Pages
I learned this drawer lining trick when I worked in retail display many years ago. Do you have any tricks to make something much easier than the traditional way of doing things?
Do you have any idea how I could extend this to covering the entire drawer? Like, the walls of the drawer, inside and out. I imagine the easiest way to do this would be to cut all of the pieces out individually, but I worry that the seams would peel and tear.
Hi Dylan – When doing the outside and insides, I would do each side separately. Do two opposite sides first. Cut 2 these two opposite sides so the paper is larger about 2 inches on all sides and then make tabs into the extra to use to wrap around the corners inside or outside. This will cover the corners. Then cut other two side pieces the same size as the drawer and attach. Everything will be covered and when the glue dries and the paper shrinks a little, the corners will still be covered. I hope this makes sense.
I cut a cardboard which fits inside of every drawer. Then, I wrap my paper around that cardboard, with clear, sticky tape & it stays in the drawer until the next time. I don’t change the paper every time because new paper is going over the old paper. RJL
Hi Ron – Great idea that you can use over and over again. Thanks for sharing the idea with me. I know other readers will benefit from the idea.
Hi, Do you use glue to keep the paper down?
Thank you
Hi Mary – I don’t use any glue, I find that whatever I place in the drawer holds it down.
I made the $10 Box valance! It looks fabulous. Found the fabric at Jo-Ann’s. It was $15.00 and got the Styrofoam at Home Depot for $8.00 and had it cut to size for the side panels. I had them cut 2 sets of side panels, one set 2″ wide and the other 3″ so I pick which would look best. I chose the 3″ for a bigger return.
I CAN’T THANK YOU ENOUGH FOR THIS LUXURIOUS LOOK. My kitchen window is beautiful and I saved a fortune!
Hi Joni – Thanks for taking the time to tell me about the success of your kitchen window valance. I love hearing how my tutorials have inspired and helped readers decorate their homes affordably. :-) If your friends and family are anything like mine, they will soon be asking you to make one for them. XO
Diane, I so enjoy reading your blog! Could you please tell me where to find the post about the $10 Box Valance referenced above? I have searched your website using that term and didn’t see it. Thank you!
Hi Lisa – I think what you are asking about is the cardboard valance or the styrofoam valance. Reading both will let you see all the options. Let me know if these are what you are looking for. Here are the links to each post:
Cardboard: https://inmyownstyle.com/2010/02/my-entry.html
Styrofoam: https://inmyownstyle.com/2011/08/quick-and-easy-home-decorating-window-valance.html
Thank you! I think the styrofoam one must be it. But now I have two to choose from!
It’s so beautiful and not expensive. But are you using any glue? What kind?
I want to do that in my kitchen cabinet. But im renter and I want it to be removable.
Thanks
Ok I just read the comment over mine. Sorry for asking the same. But I’m still wondering if you know a kind of glue that I can use for my kitchen cabinet. Because I would it to be enough stable for grabbing dishes and moving stuff!
Thanks!
Hi Roxane – I would use a glue stick of Restickable Adhesive. 3M/Scotch makes it. You can buy it at Walmart or any office supply store. It is also sold on Amazon: http://amzn.to/1HjWHKu
This may sound silly but do you glue them in or how do they stay? I read it over twice and didn’t see anything about that.
Hi Nicole – Not a silly question at all. There was no need to glue the paper down as it lays flat and once the items are in the drawer it weighs the paper down. If your paper is on a tight gift wrap roll and curls and won’t lay flat, you could make a few scotch tape rolls to keep it in place. This will allow for easy removal when it is time for new paper.
Mod podge works!!
I’m in love with the pattern and color of the paper you used! Do you have a name of the pattern and maker of the paper? At any rate, I can’t wait to try out this tip on my plain drawers!
Hi Jenn – I don’t know the name, but I bought it recently at HomeGoods. Marshalls and TJ Maxx carries the gift wrap, too
I got contact paper with that pattern at Dollar General for like $20. It was a huge roll too!
Brilliant idea. Will also try out decorating the front end as well of one of my downstairs drawer.
Have you ever used wallpaper to line drawers? It works really good as it is a bit heavier and can often be found on clearance tables. I do not glue it down.
Hi Kathie – Yes I have used wallpaper in the past. It does work well. I have one roll leftover from a bathroom makeover years ago. I have tried to find lots of ways to use it up. :-) I have also used maps and scrapbook paper. Any decorative paper works.
Oh that is such a genius trick. Will have to do that next time! The dresser looks fabulous!
Hi Diane, Thanks for the neat tip for lining drawers – I would never have thought of turning the drawer upside down! But when you crease the paper, rather than using a pair of scissors, keep the paper creased and slip a sharp knife into the crease and use the blade to slide right down the crease for a perfect cut. If the paper is creased really sharply and the knife is sharp, you’ll get a perfect result every time.
Hi Pat – Thanks for the great tip on using a sharp knife to cut along the paper crease. I will try that the next time I line one of my drawers. XO
Hi, really liked that post about paper inside a drawer. What is the easiest way to cover a cardboard box in contact paper or gift wrap that you have cut to size. Have you ever posted this information? My husband keeps saying why are we using grocery cardboard boxes in our bathroom shelves. I keep telling him that I plan to cover them with removable contact paper but I don’t know where to start.
Thanks for all of your great posts!
Hi Mary Ann – I have posted about how to cover a box in two different ways. One post shows how to cover a box with fabric, but the steps would be the same with contact paper of gift wrap. The other post, I show how I covered boxes with maps and decoupage medium. Here are the two links:
https://inmyownstyle.com/2012/10/one-yard-decorating-how-to-cover-a-box-with-decorative-fabric.html
https://inmyownstyle.com/2013/09/map-covered-shelf-organizing-boxes.html
That sounds easy indeed!
One more question: do you glue the paper to the bottom or just lay it in?
Thank you for the tip!
Hi Anne – I just lay the paper in the drawer and do not use any glue. The contents of the drawer will hold it in place.
Love everything you do of course, but these easy instructions are terrific! Any hints on removing old contact paper that was used as drawer lining in ALL my kitchcen drawers? They are a mess and a stumbling block on my kitchen makeover! Thanks for all you do!
Hi Diane,
Thanks so much for this! I’m just about to do this on a piece I want to sell, so it couldn’t be better timing! I’ve always done it inside the drawer, but this is so obvious! DOH!
Thank you for sharing,
Cheers, Liz (Australia).
Diane, I love how your projects are very precise and detailed! I’m the same way, but sometimes it’s a problem! I want things to be the best they can possibly be…..or not at all! Perfectionism….it keeps me from starting and completing many projects. But with your instructions, I know you have already worked out the best way, so I’m always willing to press on with your ideas!
Also, I noticed your scissors….they are so cool! Are they antique? I love that they are the same on both sides, so it doesn’t matter how you hold them, your fingers still fit! If you know where I can find a pair, please share. Thanks for all your lovely inspiration.
Hi Beth –
It makes me so happy to hear that the instructions I write in my posts help you. I try my best to cover every step and make the process clear and telling readers what to watch out for and tips to help to ensure success.
I bought the scissors online a few years ago. They are not antique. I found them by doing a Google search for Vintage or Antique scissors. You may find them at garden centers. I saw them at my garden center last summer. They were in a green and yellow package.
Google “garden scissors” and you’ll find ’em. :)
Simple and brilliant is what I thought and what I saw the other commenters say. They are correct! Thank you for making this task so much easier. I have some wrapping paper that is just screaming to become drawer liners!
Oh yes, this information is perfectly brilliant. I so admire how you find the most fabulous papers to match what you have done…. you never fail to highly impress.
That’s so easy its BRILLIANT! I have several ugly drawer insides, and I didn’t want to paint. Thanks!